Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how I collect, use, store and protect personal information when you use this website, contact me, or enquire about counselling.
Who I am
I am Eleanor Donald, a counsellor practising under the name Elea Counselling.
You can contact me at: eleanor@eleacounselling.co.uk
I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office as a data controller.
What personal data I collect
I may collect:
your name
your email address
your phone number, if you choose to provide it
the content of any message or enquiry you send
information you choose to share about your circumstances, wellbeing, mental health, relationships, or reasons for seeking counselling
technical data such as IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, and website use
I only collect personal data that is relevant and necessary.
Special category data
Because this is a counselling website, information you choose to share may include special category data. This may include information about health, mental health, sexuality, family life, trauma, or other sensitive personal matters.
Where I process health-related special category data, I do so where it is necessary for the provision of confidential counselling support, or for related professional, legal, safeguarding or insurance purposes.
How your data is collected
Your data may be collected when you:
submit an enquiry through the contact form
email me directly
arrange an initial consultation
begin counselling with me
browse the website, including through cookies and analytics tools
Contact form submissions are delivered to me by email. They may also be processed or temporarily stored by Squarespace, my website provider, so that the website and contact form can function correctly.
Why I use personal data
I use personal data to:
respond to enquiries
decide whether I am able to offer counselling
arrange an initial consultation
communicate about potential or existing counselling work
provide counselling, where we agree to work together
keep appropriate records
meet legal, professional, insurance, safeguarding or regulatory responsibilities
understand how the website is used and improve it
I do not use personal data for marketing purposes.
Lawful bases for processing
Under UK GDPR, I rely on the following lawful bases:
Legitimate interests: to respond to enquiries, manage initial contact, keep appropriate records, protect website security, and run my counselling practice.
Contract: where counselling is being arranged or provided.
Legal obligation: where I am required by law to keep or share information.
Vital interests: in rare circumstances where this is necessary to protect someone’s life or safety.
Where I rely on legitimate interests, my legitimate interests are to run a safe, ethical and confidential counselling practice, respond to people who contact me, manage records appropriately, and protect the security of my website and communications.
You have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests. If you object, I will consider your request and whether I have a compelling reason to continue processing the information.
How your data is stored and processed
This website is hosted by Squarespace, which processes data on my behalf to provide website hosting, contact forms, website security and Squarespace Analytics.
Data submitted through the contact form is sent to my email account. I take reasonable steps to keep personal data secure and confidential.
You do not need to include detailed sensitive information in the contact form when making an initial enquiry.
International transfers
Squarespace is an international company. Personal data processed through this website may be transferred to or accessed from countries outside the UK, including the United States.
Where this happens, Squarespace states that it uses appropriate safeguards, including standard contractual clauses and the UK international data transfer addendum.
How long I keep your data
I keep personal data only for as long as necessary.
If you enquire about counselling but we do not go on to work together, I usually delete enquiry information within 3 months, unless there is a clear reason to keep it for longer.
If you become a client, personal data and counselling records are kept for 6 years after our work ends, in line with professional, legal and insurance requirements.
Website analytics data is retained according to the settings and retention periods used by Squarespace.
I may keep relevant information for longer if needed for legal, safeguarding, complaint handling or insurance reasons.
Sharing your data
I do not sell, trade or rent personal data to third parties.
Your data may be shared only where necessary with:
Squarespace, my website provider
email and IT service providers
my clinical supervisor, in anonymised or minimised form where possible
professional advisers, such as my insurer, accountant or legal adviser
relevant authorities, where required by law or where there is a serious risk of harm
service providers who support the secure running of the website or my counselling practice
Any service providers who process personal data on my behalf are expected to process it in accordance with data protection law.
Cookies and analytics
This website uses cookies and similar technologies.
Some cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. Others may be used by Squarespace Analytics to help me understand how visitors use the website.
You are given the option to accept or decline non-essential cookies when you visit the website. Non-essential cookies are restricted unless you choose to accept them.
You can also manage or delete cookies through your browser settings.
Your rights
Under UK GDPR, you may have the right to:
access the personal data I hold about you
request correction of inaccurate data
request erasure of your data
restrict processing
object to processing
request transfer of your data in some circumstances
withdraw consent, where consent is being relied on
Some rights may not apply in every situation. For example, I may need to keep certain information for legal, professional, safeguarding, insurance or complaints-related reasons.
Data protection complaints
If you have concerns about how your personal data is handled, please contact me at: eleanor@eleacounselling.co.uk
I will acknowledge data protection complaints within 30 days and take appropriate steps to look into the matter and respond.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Updates to this policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. The most recent version will always be available on this website.
Last updated: 05/07/2026